Rehearsal Dinner

Celeste

Welcome Party

Cafe Brauer

Wedding Day

Megan & John 4.18.26

After a long day of work, John came home to his West Loop apartment and kicked up his feet on the couch. His friends had been encouraging him to date now that he was back in Chicago - he had been on Hinge for a few months, went on a few dates but wasn’t feeling great about who he’d been meeting. He decided to take another shot, and when he opened up the app he saw a very clever profile for a girl that decided to start her profile with an attention-grabbing photo.

September 2022

John thought “yeah, she’s cute”, and swiped right.

A few weeks later, Megan was at her condo in River North, and opened up her Hinge app for the first time in a few weeks. She saw that she had a like from a boy named John who looked cute and had actual real life answers to his prompts (only one fishing photo but there wasn’t a fish, so he passed the vibe check).

October 2022

She thought “yeah, he’s cute” and matched back. Sadly, he didn’t message her. So after a week, she decided to get a little sassy and message him first - weirdly, about The Mummy of all things. John loves the movie, Megan loves Brendan Fraser and the roller coaster in Universal Studios.

John takes the leap - he asks Megan on a date.

John and Megan met at the Kerryman in River North for dinner and drinks, both optimistic about their first date. Their Hinge conversation showed them they both matched wits with someone at their level (what the hell is the catch?). The date went really well as John and Megan were talking non-stop, discovering a mutual love of the game show Jeopardy, and the fact that they both were seniors in 2013 (John at DePauw, Megan at BHS), to the point where they were unaware that their server had shown up at their table multiple times to see if they needed anything. Megan was a little bummed that the date ended a little early since John had an early meeting the next morning, so she called her friend Cailin and told her that she was unsure about how it went. As Cailin was talking Megan off the ledge, John texted Megan telling her that he had a great time and asked her on a second date.

November 2022

After a memorable second date where Megan turned beet red when someone asked if John was her boyfriend, Megan and John knew this was something different - they began seeing each other more and more, discovering new things together and developing their own little quirks - they discovered a musical about the Odyssey, got matching otter onesies, played their first escape room, and developed their first nicknames for each other (to this day John calls Megan 'goldfish'- neither of them know how it started). As Christmas nears, they wondered “how do I explain this person I really like to my family?” and decided that they were fully in and became ~official~.

December 2022

John and Megan are out with friends at a karaoke bar, drinking, dancing and singing the night away. As the bar closed and everyone ventured home with ABBA in their hearts, Megan and John wandered back to West Loop. However, Megan noticed that John seemed nervous and could tell his heart was racing. So, she asked “what’s on your mind?”. John took a breath, and said ‘I love you’ for the first time. Megan blushed (her signature shade of beet) and smiled and said “I love you too”. They knew before but it was for sure then - this person is truly special.

March 2023

John and Megan had been with each other every day for the past year and a half, having late night dance parties to the song that reminds John of Megan (Pumpkin by the Regrettes) and developing inside jokes (if they're being sassy, they say 'rawr' to the other - and anytime one of them brings home a gift or a snack for the other, they say "I have a present for you, it's a MELON!!). Soon, they realized “there’s no one else I’d rather be with”, and decided to move in together! Since both of their apartments were only the right size for one person, they searched and searched until they found a place in Roscoe Village. It was a small, cute place (albeit with a terrible landlord), but Megan and John made the place unique to themselves and absolutely fell in love with the neighborhood where they still reside today and continue to fall more in love with each other.

May 2024

Megan had an odd feeling as John set up a date night to an escape room and encouraged her to ‘dress nice’. They’re no strangers to an escape room, as they try to do one every other month or so, and Megan is very used to her scrunchie, sneakers, and jeans, so she was a little confused to say the least. John was very focused and quiet on the ride to the escape room, which was unusual because usually their adventures are joyous and full of shenanigans. They ended up at the Art Heist at the Escape Game, which wasn’t a walk in the park to say the least, so John encouraged Megan to ask for hints. Megan was confident she could solve the riddles without assistance, but after enough of John’s nagging, and with 5 minutes left on the clock, Megan acquiesced and asked for a hint from the game master. A clue popped up on screen that simply said “ask your boyfriend, he knows the answer”. As Megan turned, she saw John get down on one knee. He then asked Megan to marry him. At this point, Megan had fully started crying and said John’s favorite word, “Yes.” They then went to a surprise celebration at the place where it all started, the Kerryman, surrounded by their family and friends.

November 2024

Megan and John officially get married and party with all of you wonderful people (and possibly some zoo animals).

April 2026

Our Story

A Trip Down Memory Lane

Meet our wedding party!

Megan's ride or dies

Shannon has been by Megan's side since the day they were born - literally. She's been a built-in best friend for Megan's whole life and her fiercest protector, and they share treasured memories ranging from binge-watching Grey's Anatomy, destroying their parents in euchre (whippersnappers for life), and endless conversations and advice about life, boys, career, and sharing funny videos of people falling over, puppies, or news reporter fails.

Shannon Corey

Marissa shortly follows Shannon in tenure, as she and Megan became best friends at the adorable age of six months old (a mere week for Megan). Since then, they've been inseparable and share a love of reading, euchre, and planning world domination (just kidding). Marissa is Megan's sounding board and has been the most incredible friend for three decades, and will always be her first euchre partner (go big or go home baby).

Marissa Burdett

Molly and Megan bonded through college shenanigans and sorority events, realizing they had found a sister and friend for life. Molly helped Megan grow into the person she is today with encouragement and support, and they share a love of cooking and adventure and an obsession with Molly's dog Frank. Molly is an anchor for Megan and a treasured friend, and they always cheers to the Catalina wine mixer.

Molly Clark Anderson

Cailin and Megan joked that they were a couple long before they met their partners. If you catch these two together they're probably singing Phantom of the Opera or belting out Abba while watching Mamma Mia. Cailin was the first person to hear about Megan's first date with John as Megan called her after leaving the date hoping there would be a second, and John asked Megan out for date number two while they were still on the phone. 

Cailin Whisler Brady

While Megan and John had an incredible first date, Megan and Devon shared a deeply memorable one over margaritas after being set up by their parents (thanks Janet and Pat!). They realized they had a bizarre amount in common, from both having dogs named Wrigley, to loving Harry Potter, and even having the same credit card. Years later, Devon is one of Megan's most treasured people and they're part of the coolest trio in Chicago, the Greeb Girlies.

Devon Stewart

Rounding out the Greeb Girlies is Katherine Carlton, who Megan bonded with over reading, Harry Potter, and musical theater (halleLUJAH). Katherine and Megan became fast friends over pregnant wives (don't ask) and laughing so hard until they cry, which happens regularly. You'll find the Greeb Girlies traversing Chicago, but Megan and Katherine always find the moments for comedy and shenanigans (sometimes at Devon's expense).

Katherine Carlton

Megan and Jeff met through a mutual friend and quickly realized they found a kindred spirit, and built a friendship over a love of music, food, dancing and fun that strengthens year after year. Find them watching music videos or singing karaoke in their living rooms, dancing around the city or inventing new cocktails as sweet as their friendship (elderberry French 75 is the current one to top).

Jeff Gougis

John's Best Man and Starting Five

Scott and John met in their freshman year of college and became fast friends after learning they were rushing the same fraternity. They lived together on multiple occasions throughout college and have stayed connected into adulthood and meet up at least monthly for scotch and cigars. John and Megan’s first double date was with Scott and his wife Maggie – and Scott and Maggie knew halfway through dinner that John and Megan would get married.

Scott Graf

Garrett and John have been friends since they were 5 years old after being put in the same cub scout troop and park district basketball team (shout out to the Mt. Prospect Grizzlies). They have stayed close ever since despite living in different states for most of their 20s. Garrett and John have had way too many hours-long conversations where they just shout movie quotes at each other.

Garrett Heidkamp

Chris and John also met when they were 5 years old and have been roasting each other ever since. Chris has a habit of bringing out his dry snark at the perfect time to the point where even John's dad will reference jokes Chris made when Chris and John were kids. Chris and John also bond over music, having both played in band together and having swapped at least 100 playlists over the years.

Chris Silchuck

Phil and John met through mutual friends during freshman year winter break of their respective colleges. They developed a quick bond over obscure sports stats, vacations in Las Vegas, Dave Matthews Band and golf tips. Phil and John still play golf together and bounce sports hot takes off of each other.

Phil Weber

Charlie and John met during a pickup basketball game while both were in high school and an immediate mutual respect was formed due to trash talk and aggressive defense. They still trash talk each other but there is a lot more love behind it after years of friendship. Charlie and John have been playing golf and Yu-Gi-Oh together for several years, with Charlie often getting the better of John at both.

Charlie Davis

Tony and John met in their senior year of high school through mutual friends and ended up playing pickup basketball together on a daily basis after school instead of doing homework. Both Tony and John now have graduate degrees. They have stayed close, going to several concerts together and competing against each other in a decades-long fantasy football league that Tony runs. Tony and John still play sports together, though not on a daily basis as neither of them have knees that are in basketball shape.

Tony Thierjung

Wedding Party

What Is Cocktail Wedding Attire?

Cocktail Dresses to Add to Your Cart ASAP

What Guys Need to Know About Dress Codes

We'd love for our guests to wear cocktail attire. Think suits, party dresses, dressy jumpsuits - something you look good and feel good in! Don't feel like you need to wear a full tux, but please no jeans, t-shirts, or casual wear.The bridesmaids will be acting as Megan's 'something blue' in various shades of blue. The groomsmen will be in light gray suits, while John is standing out in a darker gray suit. Megan will, somewhat predictably, be in white.Get some inspiration!<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/megancorey95/wedding-guest-dressesjumpsuit-inspiration/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Dresses and jumpsuits</a><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/megancorey95/wedding-guest-suit-inspiration/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Suits</a>

What to Wear

Frequently Asked Questions And Their Hopefully Thorough Answers

FAQs

Places to Stay

Our Preferred Hotel

Claridge House is our preferred hotel for our wedding weekend, coming highly recommended from our friends (thanks Dani and Drew!). Claridge House is in the Gold Coast neighborhood, about a twenty-minute walk and ten-minute drive from Cafe Brauer! <a href="https://www.hilton.com/en/attend-my-event/mdwcgup-917-e7bfbaac-f034-4408-9edf-3ec05b87e6b2/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Book here</a> :)

Claridge House

Other Options for Sleeping

Please note that this is not our preferred hotel for our wedding; however, it is a five-minute walk to Cafe Brauer and has classic Chicago charm, with a fabulous rooftop bar called the J Parker. It's a pricier option fair warning, but a good choice if you'd like to walk!

Hotel Lincoln

You can choose from a variety of great local options and homes near the venue on Airbnb or VRBO! We recommend choosing somewhere in Lincoln Park, Gold Coast, Lakeview, or Old Town.

Airbnb/VRBO

Getting to Chicago and Cafe Brauer

If You're Flying

O’Hare is Chicago’s largest airport and is (relatively) convenient if you're flying in! All major airlines go to O'Hare and United calls it home, and you can easily get downtown using the Blue Line L or grab a cab or Uber to get anywhere you want to go.

O'Hare International Airport

If you prefer Southwest or a smaller airport, you can fly into Midway! If you choose to fly in here, you can get to the city on the Orange Line L or take an Uber/Lyft/Taxi.

Midway International Airport

If You're Coming From the Suburbs

If you live in the North, Northwest, or some Western suburbs, you can take your local Metra’s Union Pacific lines into Ogilvie. Ogilvie is based in the West Loop, where you have a ton of options for food, hotels, and transportation elsewhere in the city - it's about a twenty-minute drive from Cafe Brauer.

Ogilvie Transportation Center

If you're taking Amtrak or a local Metra, you'll head to Union Station in the West Loop! Similar to Ogilvie, there's plenty of food, hotel, entertainment, and transportation options and is about a twenty-minute drive to our wedding.

Union Station

Coming from the Electric District? Take the Metra into Millennium Station. Bonus, this puts you right by some of Chicago's most iconic attractions like the Art Institute, Buckingham Fountain, and Cloudgate (no Medill F's for the Bean here)!

Millennium Station

If you're in the Southwest Suburbs, take your local Metra into the Lasalle Street Station! This will put you right in the Loop, and is about a half hour drive from Cafe Brauer, or you could take the Red or Brown Line!

LaSalle Street Station

If You're Driving, From the Burbs or Beyond!

If you are driving to our wedding, please head to Cafe Brauer at 2021 N. Stockton Drive, Chicago, IL 60614. Once there, you have a few parking options: 1. Park at the Lincoln Park Zoo Lot (entrance at Fullerton Parkway &amp; Cannon Drive - 2400 N. Cannon Drive). Parking is free for the first 30 minutes; and has a maximum rate of $45 a day. Please note that this parking lot closes at 11pm, an hour before our wedding ends. 2. Street-park in the area - please note that there is limited free parking on Stockton Drive, especially in peak times. In April, there should be lots of options for parking!3. Park in a local garage, like the ones below:308 W Dickens Ave (2100 N Lincoln Park West): 3-minute walk; rates starting at $30.671756 N Stockton Drive (Chicago History Museum): 6-minute walk; rates starting at $14.81310 W Belden Ave (The Belden Stratford): 9-minute walk; rates starting at $42.30350 W Belden Ave: 11-minute walk; rates starting at $19.041639 N Wells St: 13-minute walk; rates starting at $13.75527 W Webster: 12-minute walk; rates starting at $14.81

Travel

Activities

Near the Venue

The Lincoln Park Zoo is one of the oldest and most beloved zoos in the country—and best of all, it’s free to visit! The zoo is home to hundreds of animal species and offers lush gardens, walking paths, and stunning views of the city skyline (make sure to check out the Honeycomb, a beautiful spot at the end of the LPZ nature walk for an awesome photo opp with Chicago's skyline). It’s just steps away from Café Brauer, making it a great spot to explore the day before, the day of, or the day after wedding festivities!

Lincoln Park Zoo

The Lincoln Park Conservatory is a free, beautiful indoor garden a few minutes walk from Café Brauer - it'll feel like you've stepped out of the Midwest into a lush jungle. Please note, even though it is free (albeit with a suggested donation) you should book your ticket ahead of time on their website.

Lincoln Park Conservatory

Step out of the hustle and bustle of the city into this beautiful and serene oasis - it's just a hop and a skip from the Conservatory and features beautiful waterfalls and Illinois wildflowers.

Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool

In Chicago

Rain or shine, the architecture cruise is an incredible and interesting way to get to know Chicago - take a spin down our river and learn more about how Chicago was built! Fun fact, Hot Ones host Sean Evans used to be a tour guide for the architecture cruise.

Architecture River Tour

Close to the Art Institute in Chicago's Loop neighborhood is our iconic Millennium Park, which includes shiny Cloud Gate (aka the Bean).

Millennium Park

Escape Rooms

If you want to recreate John's incredible proposal, head to the Escape Game in Streeterville and do the Art Heist room! Any room here is incredibly fun, but if you do Mission to Mars beware the red button!!

The Escape Game Chicago

This fun and interactive escape room in North Halsted offers unique rooms with fun twists! John and Megan particularly enjoyed the Escape the 90s room (fair warning, you may need to brush up on your Super Nintendo skills).

The Quandary Escape Rooms

Get to know the Fulton Market neighborhood with this fun (indoor/outdoor) escape room/scavenger hunt combination. You'll solve puzzles and solve a mystery while visiting awesome locations in Fulton Market. If you choose this, be sure start in the morning to make it to the wedding in time! It says 1.5 - 3 hours, but you'll want to sit and enjoy the spots it takes you on the way.

Escapely Chicago

Shopping

Near the venue

Stroll this lovely street in nearby Lincoln Park for upscale boutiques, local fashion, and sidewalk cafés.

Armitage Avenue Boutiques

A short walk south, this historic neighborhood features cobblestone streets, charming homes, galleries, and The Second City—the comedy club that launched legends like Tina Fey and Steve Carell. There's also an awesome rooftop bar on top of Second City called Utopian Tailgate.

Old Town Triangle District

Walk up and down Chicago's famous Mag Mile for some great shopping, including our Watertower Place mall with the American Girl shop and the new Harry Potter store. If you're feeling fancy, stop in the Drake Hotel for some tea!

Magnificent Mile

Museums & Culture

Located just south of the venue, this museum offers engaging exhibits on Chicago’s past—from the Great Fire to the 1893 World’s Fair—plus a vintage L car and fun photo ops. Also, weirdly, the bed where Abe Lincoln died, if you're looking for the macabre.

Chicago History Museum

Perfect for families, this museum is a few hops from Cafe Brauer and celebrates local ecosystems with interactive displays, live animals, and a beautiful butterfly haven.

Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum

Did you know the world-famous Chicago Art Institute in the Loop was built for the World's Fair in 1893? (Thank you, Devil in the White City!). You'll find iconic paintings like Nighthawks and American Gothic here, or you can recreate Ferris Bueller's Day Off in front of A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. Or you can visit Megan's personal favorite, the Miniature Rooms!

The Art Institute of Chicago

Another iconic building built for the World's Fair of 1893, the Field Museum sits on Museum Campus close to the Shedd Aquarium and Adler Planetarium. The Field Museum is famous for being the home of Sue, a near-complete T-Rex skeleton that now has her very own exhibit! (Be warned, there are some smellable parts of that exhibit that nearly made Megan pass out)

Field Museum

Where to Nosh

Geja's is one of the coziest spots in Chicago with absolutely delicious fondue - it's one of Megan and John's favorite date night spots!

Geja's Cafe

Chicago's famous pizza pot pie can be found at the Oven Grinder, super close to the Lincoln Park Zoo! We recommend going at an odd time, they don't take reservations but they'll remember when you got in line!

Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder Company

This adorable and delicious spot is known for its wine and French food - a great place for lunch or dinner!

Mon Ami Gabi

This adorable sushi restaurant is situated right in our wedding hotel. Please note they open at 5pm so they are a dinner only spot!

Sushi by Bou- Gold Coast Chicago @ Claridge House

Check out one of Megan and John's go to restaurants for after work date nights (and where John met Megan's parents for the first time). It's right off Clark Street for easy access to bars and the Chicago river!

The Smith

Live out your dreams of shouting 'COUSIN' and 'CORNER' at the inspiration for the Bear! Bonus points, it's a block away from the Green Door Tavern which has a hidden secret in its basement.

Mr. Beef

Speakeasies

This hidden gem requires a riddle to enter and has phenomenal drinks, as well as an original door salvaged from an actual Chicago speakeasy.

The Gatsby Speakeasy

Find whimsical drinks and step back in time to Prohibition at this speakeasy located in one of Chicago's oldest bars.

The Drifter

Hidden underneath the Gilt Bar is a secret library with great bites and cocktails.

The Library

Things to Do

Registry

Searching for the Otter's Den

1920s Chicago was famous for its rip roaring speakeasies - the Green Door Tavern, The Drifter, even Al Capone’s favorite the Green Mill (Chicago laughed in the face of Prohibition). However, Chicago’s best kept secret was tucked away at Cafe Brauér. Café Brauer was built by Dwight H. Perkins in the Prairie Style and was completed in 1908 - intended to be an oasis for Chicagoans after a day at the Lincoln Park Zoo, this iconic landmark housed a secret - a notorious speakeasy called the Otter’s Den.&nbsp; The Otter’s Den was A place where people could eat, drink and be merry, hiding out from the Feds in a swinging juice joint and where the local bootleggers could test out inventive cocktailS. The Otter’s Den became known as a wonderful place full of twists and Turns, a true place for Everyone to have some giggle water, do the Charleston, and solve some Riddles. In fact, rumor has it the Otter’s Den still exists today - you just have to solve the riddle to find it. At the wedding, feel free to have a drink during cocktail hour, rest your drink, find the next hint, and see if you can solve the riddle and unlock some of the inventiveness the Otter’s Den was known for.